GUYANA’S Head Of State, President Donald Ramotar, on Saturday last, formally launched the $100M Anna Regina Rice Cereal Manufacturing Facility, slated to add value to the rice industry in Guyana.This Government-invested project, costing some $100 million, is a facility which has the capacity to produce five metric tonnes of breakfast cereal daily. The cereal would be called Morning Glory, and funding for the project has been secured under the Rural Development Fund administered by the Tourism, Industry and Commerce Ministry.

In an exclusive interview with this publication, Dr. Suresh Narine, Director of the Institute of Applied Science and Technology (IAST), said that construction of this factory is set to directly benefit some 105 persons in its initial phase; and when the factory would have reached its capacity, it would be able to provide employment to more than 200 persons.

Dr. Narine noted that, most importantly, his first order of business would be to express heartfelt gratitude to the Essequibians, especially those from the Anna Regina area, for their support and collaboration in this project. He said: “What we produce must be of a high quality. And this facility that will be built will be the pride of the community.”

Explaining the reason for situating the rice factory in Essequibo, Dr. Narine explained that Essequibians are among the most hospitable people in Guyana, and they take pride in their land.

“For a company of this nature to flourish,” Dr. Narine opined, “the community needs to take pride in everything that they do; and I have found this here (in Essequibo)”.

Dr. Narine noted thus: “In another week or so, we will start advertising our vacancies; and within another four weeks, we will begin training of those persons that would have been selected.”

After the training would have been completed, he said, persons would be presented with a food handler’s certificate, so that by the time the factory is completed, they would be trained and equipped to take up employment.

Dr. Narine noted that in the factory’s first phase of production, about 2000 tonnes of rice would be utilised; “but the factory will be built to be able to expand on production when needed, and it will be able to utilise up to 30,000 tonnes of rice yearly,” he disclosed.

“With 400 grammes of rice, we can process and package, and be able to resell that for $600 to $700. That is added value,” he stressed.

An upbeat award-winning and globally recognised Professor Narine told the gathering at the launching of the factory that, with all this new development, “I still have more news for you: today we are also launching our nutritional bar, also made from rice!”

This newspaper took the opportunity to speak with a few residents about this investment that the Government has embarked upon.

Arnold Adams exclaimed: “Of course this is good for the community! And my main reason for saying this is because it is creating jobs for our young people, and we will be able to keep them in Essequibo.”

He said another major spin-off of this factory would be the benefits accruing to rice farmers.

“I wrote CXC last year, and now I will apply to this company to see if I can get a job”, 17-year-old Suresh Lall disclosed. He explained that his family would be more appreciative of him staying in Essequibo, and the factory presents him a great opportunity to so do, since the company would be training persons before they commence work.

Anna Regina senior citizen Bill (only name given) declared, “I am happy to see this Government investing; and dem been doing so for many years now.”

Bill noted that Anna Regina was previously all swamp with no development; but, he said, over the years under this Government, “plenty people get big house, and dem children get fancy jobs. I glad that we getting this factory, so we can keep we children here, and not send dem to Georgetown.”

By Rebecca Ganesh